Imagine this: last week, your toddler, who used to squeal with delight in the bathtub, now trembles at the mere mention of bath time. Does this ring a bell? If so, you’re in the right place!

During a typical evening bath, my 19-month-old had a little accident and pooped in the tub. What followed was an unexpected and irrational fear of bathing. He now associates the bathtub with the incident, protesting bath time with cries of “poo po” at the sight of any water.

As a mom, I panicked, fearing I had instilled a lifelong dread of baths in him, and that he’d be relegated to showers forever. But I’m here to share a hopeful message with any parent facing similar toddler bath time dramas: this too shall pass.
The turnaround for us involved a few simple, yet effective strategies. First, we introduced some exciting new bath toys to shift his focus. We also paused bath time for a week to give him a little break. Lastly, we skipped the bubble bath so he could clearly see that the water was clean and safe. These changes helped rebuild his confidence, and we’ve happily resumed our splash-filled bath times.

If you’re dealing with bath time resistance, remember, patience and a few clever tweaks can make a world of difference. Hang in there!